Jeff Skinner scored four of the Buffalo Sabres five goals, recording five points overall, to lead the team to a 5-3 win against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Sunday afternoon.
The Sabres wasted little time getting on the scoreboard against Montreal. Buffalo was able to create a turnover in the offensive zone, with Jeff Skinner tipping in a Casey Fitzgerald point shot. Skinner's 17th goal of the season gave the visitors a 1-0 lead less that four minutes into the game.
Craig Anderson stopped all eight Canadiens' shots on goal in the opening period. Montreal went nearly 10 minutes without a shot in the middle part of the frame.
Each team had abbreviated power play chances thanks to minor penalties on Rasmus Dahlin and Brendan Gallagher.
Mike Hoffman scored just over a minute into the second period to even the score at 1-1 between Montreal and the Sabres. The goal was Hoffman's eighth of the season, with Corey Schueneman assisting along with ex-Sabre Paul Byron.
Skinner once again gave Buffalo a one-goal lead with his second score of the game. His 18th goal of the season made it 2-1 Sabres, with Dahlin helping setup the marker.
However, the lead would be short lived. Less than a minute later Jeff Petry's shot from the blue line hit a Sabre in the slot and got past Anderson to tie the score 2-2. Former Sabre draft pick Joel Armia scored his second goal of the season late in the middle stanza to give Montreal a 3-2 lead over the Sabres.
A Canadiens penalty late in the second helped Buffalo tie the score at 3-3 with just over a minute left in the frame. Tage Thompson converted after Peyton Krebs made a pass on the man advantage. Montreal was called for a too many men on the ice minor that led to the opportunity.
Skinner completed the hat trick even while he was being interfered with on his way to the Montreal net. The play started thanks to a turnover in the neutral zone, and the forward finished the play with his 19th goal of the year to make it 4-3 Buffalo.
The Sabre forward was not done scoring. His fourth goal of the afternoon extended Buffalo's lead to 5-3 late in the third period.
It was also Skinner's fifth point of the game. He recorded an assist on Thompson's power play score as well.
Game Summary
Goal Summary
First Period
BUF: 3:41 - Jeff Skinner (17) (Casey Fitzgerald, Alex Tuch)
MTL: none
Second Period
BUF: 10:15 - Jeff Skinner (18) (Rasmus Dahlin)
18:24 - Tage Thompson (15) PPG (Peyton Krebs, Jeff Skinner)
MTL: 1:11 - Mike Hoffman (8) (Corey Schueneman, Paul Byron)
11:13 - Jeff Petry (2) (Jake Evans, Rem Pitlick)
16:09 - Joel Armia (2) (Ryan Poehling, Brett Kulak)
Third Period
BUF: 8:16 - Jeff Skinner (19) PPG (Unassisted)
18:14 - Jeff Skinner (20) PPG (Alex Tuch)
MTL: none
Penalty Summary
First Period
BUF: 13:48 - Rasmus Dahlin (2 min., tripping)
MTL: 14:08 - Brendan Gallagher (2 min., interference)
Second Period
BUF: 7:23 - Peyton Krebs (2 min., tripping)
MTL: 17:52 - Team (2 min., too many men on the ice)
Third Period
BUF: 14:59 - Kyle Okposo (2 min., slashing)
MTL: 13:21 - Kale Clague (2 min., tripping)
Losi and Gangi Three Stars
1. Jeff Skinner
2. Alex Tuch
3. Joel Armia
Losi and Gangi
